“I Can Live With That” – Max Scherzer Has ‘No Regrets’ Over World Series Loss With LA Dodgers

Max Scherzer is indubitably one of the greats of the game. Having pitched for close on 15 seasons in the major leagues, he is a shoe in for a Hall of Fame nomination. However, despite his many accolades, Scherzer still fell short of the pennant in 2021 while with the LA Dodgers. But he wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Scherzer was on the LA Dodgers for their World Series run. He was in fact, slated to start Game 6. He, however withdrew from that appearance on account of soreness on his arm which may have been from his relief appearances earlier that series. Max says however, that he would not change a thing.

Scherzer says no regrets

Scherzer spoke about his World Series appearance with the LA Dodgers, stating that the nature of the season impeded his performances. His irregular appearances and inconsistent pitching practice could be why he wasn’t able to pitch in Game 6.

He harkened back to his 2019 form when Scherzer won the World Series with the Washington Nationals. Scherzer came from the bullpen as a reliever in that series and spoke about doing the same for the 2021 games too. He had hoped that’s what would happen with the Dodgers as well. Scherzer said, “Going back I don’t have regrets saying, ‘Hey, let’s do the 2019 playoff run.’”

Scherzer had only made 11 regular season appearances after returning from injury in the 2021 season and the nature of a pitcher’s workload is that it would require some getting used to.

He had a conversation with the Dodgers manager at the time to think about repeating his pattern from 2019. However, his languishing pain from pitching in Game 2 did not seem to reduce by the time Game 6 rolled around.

Speaking directly to Dodgers fans, Scherzer explained that he was perfectly alright with the Dodgers fans being upset with him. The ambition of any team would be to win the World Series and he understood the upset of fans. “For Dodger fans to be upset with me, for me to get dead arm like that, hey, that’s fair game,” said Scherzer.

Read More : “I Could Have Jeopardized My Career”- Max Scherzer Opens Up On ‘Dead-Arm’ Upset In Crucial LA Dodgers World Series Game

Max Scherzer – Possible Hall of Famer

Scherzer was originally the 11th overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs though, traded Scherzer to the Detroit Tigers where Scherzer really began to excel.

Scherzer and Justin Verlander operated in tandem for the Detroit Tigers and routinely troubled batters. They were a perennial playoff team but somehow always just fell short of a championship.

Scherzer then moved to the Washington Nationals where he really raised his performances. Rewarded with the World Series ring in 2019, the faith the Nationals had placed in Scherzer was well placed. He however, took his talent to greener pastures amid appearances featuring injury and battling surgeries.

In 2021, Scherzer went 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA in 179⅓ innings for the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struck out 236 batters, and walked only 36 from home plate.

Max Scherzer finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2021. This marked the eighth time in the past nine years he has finished within the top five for the annual recognition. The pitcher has managed 3 wins so far and will be looking for his 4th come 2022.

The pitcher now has signed with the New York Mets. The deal puts two Cy Young Award winner at the Citi Field mound. With Scherzer and deGrom a part of the rotation the Mets will look to make it big next year.

Scherzer, 37, becomes the oldest player in MLB history to sign a $100 million contract. The $43.33 million average annual salary of the deal sets a record, surpassing the $36 million New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole is averaging after signing a nine-year, $324 million contract in 2019.